Philp IJ Frailty Aging 2013;2:128
Publication date: September 1, 2013
Summary
Primary care physicians are well aware of the human and financial consequences of frailty ‒ loss of independence in daily living activities, reduced participation in family and community life, increased use of acute hospital and long-term care services, and a negative impact on the lives of spouses and family carers.
Effective primary healthcare should include systematic approaches to the identification of the vulnerable older person and target threats to independence. The EASY-Care program allows front-line practitioners and voluntary workers to undertake a brief multi-dimensional assessment of the physical mental and social functioning of the older person, with information obtained used to mobilize information, advice and support based on the priorities of the older person.
An international database has been developed for analysing data derived from EASY-Care assessments for population needs, differences between cultures and change in status over time. This approach is intended as a global means to empower primary care physicians in the identification of the vulnerable older person with a view to preventing frailty and its consequences.